I studied him for a moment. Rowan never floated a thought unless he’d already mapped every possible outcome. This wasn’t idle conversation—it was a feeler, a way to gauge our reactions before he went ahead and did exactly what he wanted anyway.
I didn’t give a fuck.
Pussy was pussy.
???
We had too much hard cash coming in, and while we searched for a new manager for Monarchs, I needed to split the funds among the other four businesses. Purchasing gold bars in cash at jewellery emporiums and bullion specialists required third-party buyers who wanted a cut of the profits. It was becoming harder to pay in cash; everything was electronic now.
I wondered if Nick could gather some people at Hustle to help us out. Anyone who knew him would be too afraid to try to scam us.
I tapped out a quick message in code to him.
He didn’t respond, which meant he was working collections. The man knew how to twist a knife just enough. It didn’t matter where people sat on the food chain—most of the time, his words and presence worked before he ever resorted to violence. His reputation was earned. As was ours.
I grabbed my suit jacket.
My office was two blocks away from Dominion, and most of my lunches were spent at the restaurant there. Routine was as vital to me as the numbers I manipulated. Before leaving, I checked my laptop for any updates from the Commission.
A snitch would be an example, and Nick wouldn’t be alone in his or her demise. Our united front was what kept the wolves at bay.
When I stepped outside, I scanned the street before heading toward Dominion. The early spring sunshine was a welcome change after the cold, wet winter. I’d grown sick of dull grey skies. Everything felt a little more tolerable.
The people. The traffic. Even the preachers’calls drifting from the park.
It wasn’t long before I reached the doors of Dominion. The opening hours were long, but we didn’t need to oversee the floor at all times. The security team in place were proficient. Rowan had a habit of scouring the footage anyway, but remaining one of the top-performing casinos in the City of London was no easy feat.
The doorman nodded politely and held the door open.
I caught a glimpse of Sophie’s hair and quickened my pace toward the restaurant, smirking when I noticed the scarf around her neck.
They always gripped a little harder while gasping for air.
Chapter 3
Nick
While I skimmed through the list of people I needed to visit, I paused on James Constantine. The name rang a bell. I slipped my phone into my pocket and reached for the paper files instead. There was a grainy photo of him, photocopied onto his charge sheet. A repeat offender. Two lines of credit. Different names, same shaky signature.
The address was a well-known halfway house.
I folded the papers and tucked them into my jacket, then reached for my motorbike helmet.
“You guys go east,” I said, addressing the men I’d pulled from their usual positions.“I need to sort a dickhead out.”
“You sure you want to go on your own?” Drew asked, his brows furrowing.
Scott nudged him.
“You’ve not seen him in action,” he whispered.
“I might need to hunt this one down,” I said.“A bike’s easier. And I may need to get a little creative.”
I pulled on my helmet, then slid my gloves into place. They’d come in handy—protecting my knuckles and ensuring I didn’t leave fingerprints.
“Make sure you get results,” I added, my voice cold and hard as I stared them down.
All three nodded.
